Posts by Tim Biebel
Specialized beads and tapes speed up the drywall finishing process
The drywall phase of a project is that major point in a build when people are able to finally visualize the interior spaces of a house. As builders, it comes as second nature to us when the walls are only framed up. I am amazed at how many clients come through after the drywall has…
Read MoreThe modified Cape / Farmhouse look fits the neighborhood
Cost and energy efficiency considerations drove many design decisions for the ProHOME project. But the upgrades inside, like the cabinets and counters in the kitchen and the radiant heat in the bathroom, help to make the sale. Watch this video to see how these factors related to finish a beautiful and affordable production home.
Read MoreProHOME mechanicals demonstrate reasonably priced principles of efficient design.
The ProHOME is an all-electric and solar-ready house. Designing the mechanicals starts with the target R-values, then the design for the heating system. Minisplit heat pumps take care of heating and cooling. Because the ProHOME is airtight, it uses a ventilation system. We use a heat-pump water heater for its efficiency. Radiant heat in…
Read MoreThe Zehnder Ventilation System: Running The Ducting
Tight houses need air exchange. Period. Our target air exchange rate for this house is less than 1 ACH50 and with a goal like that, a clean source of fresh air will be necessary. This was our first time using the Zehnder system. We’ve relied on another heat-recovery ventilator(HRV) product in the past that we’d chosen…
Read MoreBoral’s TruExterior Siding & Trim offers a sharp, clean look
Minisplit System for a Happy Mother-in-Law
The system is sized for temperature control in each room. The ProHOME is heated and cooled with Mitsubishi Heat Pumps. Specifically, there are two outdoor units (MXZ-3C24NAHZ2) that feed five indoor units (two on one outdoor unit and three on the other). This provides 48,000 btu’s of heating capacity, which is overkill for the house,…
Read MoreTriple-Pane Windows for Performance and Comfort
Mathews Brothers windows are high-performance and locally manufactured. The windows of choice for the ProHOME are by Mathews Brothers. We like triple pane windows because they provide more R-value than a double pane, are less likely to have condensation than a double pane, and there is some added marketing value, as well. We used their…
Read MoreTraditional-Looking Clapboard Siding for a ProHome
Boral siding will stand up to the weather without moisture concerns. Boral Bevel siding looks really sharp. The lines are crisp and blind nailing makes for a clean appearance. Other than blind nailing, it is installed just like wood clapboards. Chalk lines are snapped every four inches and boards are cut tight to fit. Because…
Read MoreExterior Trim Painting
Holding off on the roofing saves time painting. When possible, we like to spray paint the exterior trim of a house because it is a lot faster. Of course, no roofing can be in place and additional prep work such as covering the windows and doors with plastic is required, but it’s still faster than…
Read MoreBoral TruExterior Trim — A First Look
Production builders try the composite building material and conclude that it is competitive with traditional wood options. The ProHOME has been our first experience with Boral TruExterior Siding and Trim. Because I hadn’t used the product before, I called up our local supplier to hear his thoughts on it. He said, “Most of our high-end…
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